Singing News

Singing News is an American monthly periodical devoted to southern gospel music, covering performers, groups, recordings, and events. Established in 1969, the magazine chronicles developments in quartet harmony, gospel choirs, and contemporary southern gospel through interviews, charts, and features. It occupies a central role among publications that document the careers of artists and the activities of festivals, record labels, and broadcasters within the southern gospel community.

History

Founded in 1969 in the United States, the magazine emerged during a period when quartets such as the Blackwood Brothers and Oak Ridge Boys were prominent on radio and television. Early decades saw coverage of label activity involving Starday Records, Canaan Records, and HeartWarming Records, while features tracked festival circuits that included the National Quartet Convention and venues like the Ryman Auditorium. Ownership and editorial stewardship changed hands over time, intersecting with figures from organizations such as the Gospel Music Association and broadcasters like WJBP-affiliated programs. The publication documented transitions affecting artists associated with ensembles like the Cathedral Quartet, Kingsmen Quartet, and solo acts including Sandi Patty and Ricky Skaggs as musical styles evolved.

Format and Content

The magazine's typical issue includes album reviews, concert calendars, artist profiles, and the widely followed monthly airplay and sales charts. Charts historically paralleled retail tracking companies and radio playlists involving stations such as WJTV and promoters connected to festivals at locations like the Dollywood complex and the Six Flags regional circuits. Feature articles have spotlighted composers connected to publishing houses like Broadman Press and production credits tied to studios in Nashville, Tennessee and Germantown, Tennessee. Special editions have profiled institutions including the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame and honored inductees from entities such as the Dove Awards and the Grammy Awards where southern gospel artists have received recognition.

Notable Contributors and Editors

Over the decades, editors and writers with ties to the southern gospel network, festival promoters, and radio personalities contributed content, including interviews with members of the Gaither Vocal Band, the Hinsons, and the Dixie Melody Boys. Contributors often included label executives associated with Sonicflood-era contemporary acts, booking agents from agencies like Premier Talent and historians connected to archives at the Library of Congress and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Editorial direction sometimes involved collaboration with producers who worked with artists such as Ricky Skaggs, engineers from RCA Studio B, and arrangers who had credits with the Statler Brothers.

Circulation and Audience

The magazine's readership has consisted of fans, church music directors, festival organizers, radio programmers, and industry professionals whose operations intersect with entities like SiriusXM channels, regional stations such as WAFJ, and syndicators that distribute programs to affiliates. Circulation figures historically reflected subscriptions across the United States and into Canada, with distribution networks including specialty retailers, convention booths at events like the National Quartet Convention, and mail-order services tied to churches and institutions like Bob Jones University. Demographic reach extended among attendees of venues such as Grand Ole Opry performances featuring crossover gospel acts.

Impact and Cultural Significance

The publication has functioned as a chronicler and influencer within the southern gospel milieu, documenting careers of ensembles including the Gaither Homecoming artists, the LeFevre Quartet, and soloists such as Barbara Fairchild. Its charts and editorial endorsements have influenced radio airplay and festival bookings, intersecting with award recognition at the Dove Awards, nominations submitted to the Grammy Awards, and preservation efforts in museums like the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame. By archiving interviews and reviews, the magazine contributed to scholarship utilized by researchers at universities such as Baylor University and Vanderbilt University and supported the cultural continuity of quartet harmony traditions celebrated at gatherings like the National Quartet Convention and regional music festivals.

Category:Music magazines published in the United States